<p>Wow! And here I was suggesting my daughter consider this topic for her essay. Not just the "conflict" between her schools science and religious teachings, but also the conservative climate at school and the "radical" one at home. Since this thread is almost a year old, it would be wonderful if the OP would give us an update. Does my one know how to "pm " her?</p>
<p>I discovered (after the fact) that my son wrote his college essay on "why he refused to get confirmed just weeks before the ceremony." (In reality, his confirmation teachers felt his questioning was disrespectful and didn't belong in the classroom. He felt HE didn't belong in an environment that disallowed questions and a difference of opinion). Actually, there was more to his essay than that but at the time, that's how I saw it. I was afraid Catholic admission reps would take offense. This is the essay he submitted to Yale SCEA. I was sure it was a terrible choice. </p>
<p>But the kid never listens to my advice. Good thing, it turns out. He used the essay for all his other schools as well. Rereading it, I realized it had more to do with his relentless questioning, his intellectual curiousity, and his thinking outside the box, etc. He somehow linked this curiosity to other areas of interest (mostly science related). I now view his essay as much deeper and insightful than I originally realized... It really does show who he is and how he thinks so therefore, it was a great essay.</p>
<p>BTW, he got into Yale, Brown, Duke, UVA, UNC, etc. He just chose some freshman seminars and as I should have guessed, religion and philosophy classes were high on his list. Although a neurscience major, I've been kidding him since he wrote his essay that he will wind up a religion major.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, my just-graduated son wrote his main essay on being a reform Jew who, since eighth grade, has studied once or twice weekly at an Orthodox Jewish Kollel. He wrote a marvelous essay--parts of it were howlingly hysterical and parts were very poignant--but most importantly, his personality and intellectual curiosity came through clearly. </p>
<p>He is a great writer, but a so-so student--his grades tend to corrrelate directly with his interest in the subject matter. The intellectual challenge of studying Torah and Talmud was wonderful for him, learning to stand up for his own beliefs and practices in circles where they were different from everyone else's (this cut in both directions as he progressed through his high school years) was another benefit of the expereince; so was making friends from an entirely different world (my son wears ripped jeans and too-tight t-shirts, not a black coat and a big black hat).</p>
<p>I think the best advice to kids is be thoughtful and dig as deeply as they can in theur essays to know themselves. As all these thoughful posts demonstrate, psyching out adcoms is not the most rewarding strategy.</p>
<p>I told my son to write about what he felt most strongly about. He wrote a humorous, thoughtful, insightful essay about what Star Wars had meant to him a seven and what it still meant to him. It was definitely his own voice, which is what I thought was most important. Some thought this a trivial topic. He was accepted at Brown, UofC, Vassar and Williams (his top choice). That's him, a dedicated Star Wars fan who, as a future music major, worships John Williams, admires the heroism of the Jedi way of life, and hopes to be a child psychiatrist. He mentioned that Star Wars helped him overcome his fear of aliens which had been paralyzing to him, an understanding that leads him to want to help other young children. My daughter's essay began, "I am a dork."
If the school doesn't like who a kid is, maybe it's the wrong school.</p>
<p>"If the school doesn't like who a kid is, maybe it's the wrong school."</p>
<p>I defintely agree with this. That's why it's so important that a kid's essay reflects who he/she really is and not what one thinks an adcom wants to hear (so glad my kids didn't listen to my suggestions).</p>
<p>I have to remind myself (for the next one), that a kid should only apply to schools he/she really wants to attend. No more trying to push my kids to apply to schools that "I" think are good choices. So far that tactic hasn't worked out too well.</p>
<p>"I discovered (after the fact) that my son wrote his college essay on "why he refused to get confirmed just weeks before the ceremony." (In reality, his confirmation teachers felt his questioning was disrespectful and didn't belong in the classroom. He felt HE didn't belong in an environment that disallowed questions and a difference of opinion). Actually, there was more to his essay than that but at the time, that's how I saw it. I was afraid Catholic admission reps would take offense. This is the essay he submitted to Yale SCEA. I was sure it was a terrible choice."</p>
<p>I'm not surprised that your S got so many top admissions. That kind of thoughtfulness, independence and passion about one's values is what places like Ivies seek in their students. That's also why the students who post on places like CC asking, "What should I do for my ECs to get into Ivies?" and "What should I write about in my essay to get into Ivies?" have even less chances than normal of getting into such an institution.</p>
<p>I also agree with those who say that essays should reflect who the students really are. If the college doesn't like who they are, then that college would not have been a good fit anyway.</p>
<p>Add to the list of odd essay topics: Discussion of the truth/beauty question using a Ferari as exhibit A.</p>
<p>I had my doubts about that one. Later, when I met an assistant dean of what was to become his engineering school, she saw my last name and said, "Your son was the one who wrote about the Ferari, isn't he? I loved that essay."</p>
<p>Same moral: they should write in their own voice about something they care about. Then let the chips fall where they may.</p>
<p>Agree with the majority here, since the essay is a thoughtful reflection. The entire point of the college essay is to demonstrate the type of thinking that the student is capable of, including challenging their own notions of religion and science. Colleges are looking for kids who think, evaluate and reflect.</p>
<p>My D wrote an essay about Israel, the middle east and her struggles as a Jewish American to be objective about the situation. (She wanted to study IR/Middle East). She was accepted at all the schools where she used this essay, including some top tier LAC's.</p>